In June 2017 I traveled to China once again, here is my third time for visiting and also my first solo to China. I flew from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Macau and cross from Macau to Hongkong by speed boat, took subway from HK to Shenzhen, then took local train from SZ to Zhaoqing, finally, from Zhaoqing to Yangshuo by bullet train. Such as an amazing route connecting, was so exhausted but really excited that I could make it happen traveled to those awesome places in a week.
About 2 an hour on bullet train to Yangshuo where is the blanket by mountains, flower field, rice terrace, so beautiful in its natural way. I suddenly lost myself in wonderland [阳朔]. I used to hear people said Yangshuo looks like in the fairy tale, you can never believe in your eyes, but when I arrived to Yangshuo proofs me that what they said was pretty right, Yangshuo is the wonderland in the wonderland. Train was boarding to the station, I got off and find the exit way to the shuttle bus, you can find the bus ticket at the next door, cost pretty cheap it took about 45 minutes from station to Yangshuo’s town.
I stayed at [Youth Backpacker Hostel/青春背包客] staff is really helpful, warm greeting and they speak pretty good English. My arriving was noon time so I just grabbed the bicycle and cycling around the city on my own, the weather quite good to went out in day time. I have been cycling without looking at my offline map, didn’t even know where to go just kept cycling around, or it’s probably I can speak Mandarin 😊 this city surrounding by the river wherever you go all you can see the long tail [Yulong He/遇龙河] I dropped by and captured some pictures, People says [if you come here without bike riding experience then you are not coming to Yangshuo] so do it once you are there. My half day cycling was pretty cool experiencing with the local living, talking to them, eating the local food, drinking the local beers, my day was end up with awesome.
I went to [Xi Jie/西街] a lot of people were gathering there at night time, live band music in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, street food, souvenirs, accessories, pubs, restaurant and it’s all in one places, but don’t go there in day time there is nothing to do. If you are not energetic then rent the scooter or the electronic bike quite easy and save time for you.
There are many activities to do in Yangshuo like rafting, kayaking, climbing, caving, or doing boat cruise along the [Yulong river] also fishing is not the bad idea to do in Yangshuo.
The first night in Yangshuo I went out for food, then I asked people for the best local food here, [Beer Fish/啤酒鱼] was recommended widely and very popular, you have to pick one fish, the fish could be small or big depends on its weight, I got one about 300g cost me 6USD after 20 minutes the food was coming out with the good smell oh my god looked so yummy, I finished it all so quick. I don’t really know the way of cooking this fish, maybe cooking with beer….. that’s why it calls [Beer Fish] don’t miss [Beer Fish] when you visit Yangshuo, don’t believe me do try it by yourself.
When you look around you can see [Beer Fish] are everywhere, in the menu, business label and advertising of course I read Mandarin if you don’t read Mandarin maybe you couldn’t notice it. Unfortunately, when I was visiting Yangshuo my [Visa card] was blocked since I tried many times to withdraw cash in RMB, so I didn’t have enough cash all my expenses were settled by my best friends in China. I am so lucky and thankful to my friends, you guys such as an awesome human on the planet, honesty I used to have the ideas about Chinese people but you guys make me understand that there are a lot of good people out there to save me when I need the most.
This experience teaches me don’t rely so much on the [Visa card]. Yangshuo is the natural and peaceful wonderland, just breathing, sitting without do anything, you can smell the taste of river and touch the beautiful scenery, I eventually lost in this wonderland [Yangshuo]. Two nights was not enough for me to explore this wonderland, hopefully next time I can make it a week there.
Note: Languages barrier is going to happen in China, a few people are speaking English rest of them don’t. There is no social media such: FB, Facetime, Line, Whatapps, Gmail what you can use is only [Wechat] or their own apps, Chinese people are nationalism. Currently 1USD=6.7RMB
